Benitez's father, Gregorio Benitez, who had managed and trained his son from the beginning of his career, sold Wilfred's managerial contract to Jim Jacobs and Bill Cayton for $75,000 in 1977. The following year, Jacobs hired former welterweight and middleweight champion Emile Griffith to train Wilfred. Gregorio was not happy with the hiring. "You may be his manager now, but I'm still his trainer," he told Jacobs. "You can both train him," Jacobs responded. The arrangement did not go smoothly.
For Palomino, Griffith planned a defensive fight from the center of the ring. "Don't go for a knockout," Griffith instructed. "Palomino is a dangerous one-punch fighter. He can hit. He is dangerous. He punches over punches. Keep your hands up and fight to go the distance. Be sharp. If you listen to me, you will win."
Griffith didn't give Wilfred many compliments during training. "I tell him he's got to do better. I want a perfect fighter," Griffith said. "I got this from my manager, Gil Clancy."
Gregorio thought Griffith's plan was sheer nonsense. "All Griffith does is tell him about how it was when he was champion," he scoffed. He said Wilfred "doesn't listen to him. He only listens to me."
Griffith trained Wilfred at the gym behind the Benitez home in a San Juan suburb. He tried to avoid confrontations with Gregorio. Each day, Griffith would quietly work with Wilfred and then return to his hotel in the city.

Carlos Palomino vs Wilfred Benitez

The contest was toe to toe for much of the fight. Stracey had a slight lead for the first six rounds, scoring with his long right hand leads and good left jabs and hooks to the head of Palomino. Carlos was doing a job on Stracey's body at this point, taking everything the champ had to offer. Carlos started to come-on in round seven, and was carrying the fight to the champion, who started to slow down and began to look worried. The next four rounds Palomino kept on coming, scoring to the body as the champion tried to hold him off. The twelfth and final round saw Palomino come out for the kill. John looked about out on his feet. Those body blows had taken all the fight out of him. Carlos opened up with a barrage of lefts and rights to the body, and down went the king. Stracey was up at eight and was again under attack from the U.S.A. boxer. Carlos landed another barrage of body punches and Stracey was again on the deck, again struggling to his feet. As Stracey leaned against the ropes for support, the referee stepped in to stop the fight at 1:35 of the round.
Ron Oliver, The Ring Magazine Correspondent

Carlos Palomino vs Wilfred Benitez

John H. Stracey vs Carlos Palomino

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